Pheromones: A Darren Criss Fanfic

CHAPTER THREE

        "So, tell me," Darren said, leaning an elbow on the table at a tiny little coffee shop in the middle of town. "What made you want to be an actress?"

        "Oh, um." I took a sip of my salted caramel frapaccino to pass time as I tried to think of a good response. "I guess I've just always been fascinated with the acting world. In acting, you get to be a different person for a short bit of time. You can focus on their problems instead of your own. Focus on their personality instead of trying to figure out exactly who you're supposed to be or who people expect you to be."

        He nodded, satisfied with my response. "I understand that. Even with music I find myself in the mindset of someone who isn't myself. But I like that because it means that I'm able to write songs that appeal to a wider audience." 

        "Well, you're an amazing musician. I've cried listening to you sing." I couldn't believe that I had actually just admitted that to Darren. Yes, it was true. But that was so embarassing. Crying listening to music is normal, but admitting it to the singer when you are going to be working with him for the next few months is just plain awkward. 

        "Oh, yeah?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. 

        "Ha, yeah. But um. It's just...your music," I fumbled. "I've never heard anything like it. Um..." 

        Darren chuckled, noticeably amuzed. "Hey, don't sweat it. That's really fucking awesome. I'm touched. Really." 

        I licked my lips and stared down at my paper carrying mug. "Okay."

        "Look. You seem a  little...I don't know..."

        "Awkward?" I offered. 

        That huge smile hit his face in an instant and he laughed. "No, no. Not awkward. Like...Nervous or something."

        "Well, I am nervous."

        "Why?" 

        I smiled in disbelief. "Because you're Darren freaking Criss!"

        His face turned from silly and interested to completely serious. With that edge of silliness still lingering in the background. "I'm just a normal person, Caroline! Completely normal. Just a random guy with a guitar who likes to write silly songs. That's all. That's it." 

        I considered this. Here he was, sitting right in front of me, flesh and bones. But he had always just been this pretty face on my television, someone that I could never feel right beside me. Someone whose eyes I could never look into. But here he was. And I was looking right into his eyes, and he was looking back. No, he wasn't just a normal guy. He was special. He had the voice of an angel and the face of one too. He was sweet and seemed super considerate of how I was feeling. Here he was bringing up that I seemed a little off, and he was worried. I couldn't help but feel bad, and I knew that I had to get over the fact that he was my celebrity crush. But that was so difficult to do when a man that you admire so much is finally sitting right in front of you. Darren's music had gotten me through so much in my life, and so I felt that I owed him my life. I couldn't let him know. 

        "Okay," I replied, nodding. And then I laughed. "But I wouldn't exactly say you're 'random.'" 

        He laughed with me. "Yeah, I guess I have made a little bit of a name for myself."

        "Hey, more than I've got!" 

        He laughed harder. I loved that sound. I was guessing that it would soon become my favorite sound in the whole wide world. 

        "But you're getting there, girly. You'll make it big. I can tell." He was doing that sneaky look with a cute little smile on his face. 

        I teasingly fake slapped his arm gently. "Oh, stop, you!" 

        "Hey, I'm serious! C'mon!" 

        "Whatever." I giggled. 

        "Anyways," he drawled out. "Tell me something about yourself. Something that will help me get to know you better."

        I pressed my lips together. "Hmm. Well, okay. I like...country."

        Darren squinted at me. "Wait. Like music?"

        Shrugging, I said, "Yeah. Chris Young, Carrie Underwood. I love all of them." 

        "Aww, no!" He laughed. "For real?"

        "Really really," I admitted. 

        "Okay okay. I guess I can look past that." He tilted his head down and looked up at me once again. "For now." 

        My smile was huge. 

        And the night went on like that. We joked and laughed and I finally let loose a little. At least, I got more comfortable talking to him. That didn't mean that every time his eyes softened when he looked at me my body didn't feel weak. I was afraid that it was always going to be that way. At the end of the night we walked out of the diner and stood there for a few moments in the warm winter night that we had been blessed with. 

        "So, this was fun. I hope that this means we can hang out now and feel comfortable enough for those lovey dovey scenes." 

        I grinned. "I hope so."

     His eyes were lit up and they made the night not seem so dark. "Well, then I'll see you tomorrow." He hugged me for just a second, smiled one last time, and left me standing there, walking away with his hands stuffed in his pockets.